For those who didn't yet get to Swinley, check this out. Quality isn't super and needs sound for the best overall effect. As the guy says, it's a dedication to the Collective.

BTW - Yes we have ridden some of these sections specifically the very first little snippet and the section at 5:54. We haven't yet tried the infamous gully, however I shall be endeavouring to locate the trails at 2:19 and 3:51. Sweet.

"Sometimes I wonder if I know where I'm going"

Ace! I'm really excited about the ride on the 9th, I can't wait! I hope it's going to be a "gentleman's" ride though because I'm seriously unfit at the moment - I'm actually quite nervous about holding you all up! Still, I think it's going to be great, even with a race on.

By the way, do any of you guys who are coming on the ride have a digital camera? I don't own one, but I've noticed that this thread seriously lacks photos of Bracknell Forest and that a few might attract some extra riders. Plus, I'd quite like to document this first ride just for fun!

Yep looking forward to this, I'll be bringing my camera even though I'm generally not that hot at getting that many photo's. Looks like there quite a few bits to play on as well, might put the big shock on as I presume theres not to many hill climbs of any real heart pounding level.

I genuinely would not worry too much about the pace Hedgehog. Particularly with the little stops between each section of singletrack everybody bunches up again, so you can take each section as slowly or as fast as you like. I don't think that anybody became 'competitive' on the last one (and there's always the race occuring at the other end of the forest if anybody wants!!

Personally i'll be taking it easy because i'm off and holiday the next day so don't want to sustain any

Camera is a good idea too, i'll try and remember to bring one as well.

Oh and Andy nice bit of video that you found. Wish they had got the quality a bit higher like you say.

Unless otherwise stated we'll ride at the pace of the slowest rider or at the very least stop at the end of each section
- to let everyone catch up
- to let me catch my breath (I tend to lead but I have to ride as fast as I can so that the others aren't running in to me)
- to marvel at the wonders of the last bit of singletrack we just rode

In fact one of the guys I used to ride with in Brussels complained that my rides involved too much chin wagging and not enough riding.

Some photos would be cool, but I've given up taking my camera as my photography skills are somewhat lacking.

Just bumping this on up the tree as it's the next Swinley Ride this weekend. Don't forget to get your permit in advance, it'll cost £1.50.

Well remembered - all done now!

Oops totally forgot.

So ... names in the frame so far :-

DrBike - I ride bikes but I ain't no doctor
Orange Al - I guess we should assume his name is Al and he rides an Orange (but you can never be sure).
Bobosola - He's more than just the Web admin guy
Sinful Hedgehog - He does naughty things in the bushes.
Marcliam - One christian name just isn't enough

Just paid for my pass.

Anything unusual that I might need to take?

It could be that I've got a David Dickinson shade of tan.

Nothing unusual just shoes, helmet, spare tube, riding permit ... bike.
Oh yeah and don't forget to bring some cash as it'll be your turn to buy coffee and cakes at the end of the ride!!!!


Now I'm worried.

Did we not mention this is the 'we like to wear women's clothes whilst we mountain bike Forum ride?'



Seriously though, i'm looking forward to it!

Andy - what's the plan, follow and develop loop from last time and pick up expert area at the end?

Do you guys know where the two sections of singletrack are (2:19 and 3:51 on your video)? If not let me know and I can give you directions. Pretty easy to find.

Pray please do tell, I've been about 5 times now and discover new sweet bits every time. Hopefully we can check them out on Sunday.

I'm looking forward to this Sunday!

How long do these rides usually last for? I'm might make an appointment to look at a car this Sunday if time permits. I know we'll be starting around 09:30ish...

Don't forget those cameras by the way! Or maybe you should...

Max

Normally they take 2 to 2.5 hours, mainly cos that's the maximum most of us old codgers can do.



It'd be nice just to get a pic or 2 on the forum.

Yep, looking forward to it

Those hidden bits of singletrack are just sitting there waiting for us to find them!!!

Especially as today is International Womens Day


The plan is to start from the Lookout and after that it kind of depends on what mood I'm in. I can't decide whether to repeat the same loop as last time or (considering that we'll be wearing dresses and stuff) try a bit of 'role reversal' and do things backwards.

To quote Crowded House - 'I believe in doing things backwards, Take heed, start doing things in reverse'

Well I've just checked my bike's okay and everything seems to be in order for tomorrow.

Two hours or so seems like a good length to me too. I'll let you do the navigation. Last time I went on my own (on one of their renta-bikes) I didn't have a clue where I was going and seemed to miss absolutely everything.

Bloody hell. We've got a squad of cross-dressers, a David Dickinson wannabe, a bloke who doesn't know where he is going, and and it looks like rain. Maybe we can get a bit of mud wrestling in too? At this rate, I think I'm going to be more interested in seeing the pictures than doing the ride!

What are you coming as then, Bob?

Another interesting ride, mainly cos of the greasy conditions after the rain over the past couple of days. With each trip I get a bit more familiar with the layout of the place and where the good bits are, but there's still a lot more out there to discover and try out. Good to meet Orange Al and Max (Sinful Hedgehog).

Many thanks for the guiding Andy, I've just finished clening the bike and have just uploaded the route onto Bikely

Nice one guys another enjoyable one.....off now to finish packing for holidays....look forward to the next one...

I'll try and sort something for around here in the next couple of months as well for any takers.....

Marc

Yes, thanks to Andy for directing us around a great ride. Sorry if I held you folks up (especially because I kept flinging myself into the greenery), it showed just how unfit I am! I've learnt some good stuff today and it was nice to get muddy. I've reserved tomorrow morning for cleaning the bike off; I had a beer and went to sleep for the afternoon today.

Pleased to have met you guys and hope to have the opportunity to do it again sometime soon.

Did you guys find the singletrack from the video? Sorry I didn't get back online in time to respond. I can still provide directions if you need them for the next group outing!

Billy - we didn't even look as we had no idea where they are!!! Plus it was a bit muddy and poor old Max got initmate with the shrubbery on more than one occasion.

Have you got a map with them on?

Any news on the photos from Sunday?

What a bunch of budding David Bailey's we all are -

Dr Bike - "Did anyone bring a camera?"
Everyone - "Erm ..... errr ...."
Marc - "I think I left mine in the car" rummage rummage rummage "Yep, I left it in the car"
Bob - "I've got a phone on my camera, but it's not very good" rummage rummage
Max - "I've got a camera on my phone ... "
WHOOSH - Al comes flying down the descent not realising there's a frantic camera search going on.

Bugger ...

Well at least we got a group shot - didn't we?

...Of me desperately trying to get my glove on again, having taken it off to get my phone out and still missing Al. I think that was the one and only photo in the end.

Well I dare not post them in albums given the current purge on non award-winning photos, so here's DrBike & Marcliam, and here's the group shot of SinfulHedgehog, OrangeAl, DrBike & Marcliam. I fluffed the pic of Orange Al's impressive double drop-off while working out how to actually take a pic on my cheapo phone.

haha, caught having a nice little sit down.

This looks like an interesting bit of track and the tabletops would be a good bit to practice jumping on. Next time perhaps? (Directions are in the comments.)

Sin.. That track is one of the two that are shown in the video that was posted before. The start to both tracks is right next to the reservoir. I have marked the start with a red cross (with an arrow pointing to it)



The map also shows the "Whole 9 yards" - which is the main track in black running bottom to top.

Thanks, Billy.

I think we rode near to that last time, but I couldn't be sure because I had no idea where we were.

Swinley is a lot easier to learn when you have someone else showing you the way - there is LOADS of stuff that I have no idea where it is!

We went very close to the red X on Sunday, but poor old Hedgehog had already got intimate with the undergrowth a few times and I didn't want to see him hugging too many more trees.

I'm hoping to go back over Easter weekend for some more exploring around Surrey Hill and I'm also intrigued by the bit marked (on another map) as the 'corkscrew' in Crowthorne Woods.

From the post ride discussions on Sunday it seems that most people have commitments over Easter weekend so can I have some suggestions for a date for the next ride? Preference would be for Saturday mornings (so that Phipsy can come along too).

I'm back!

DrBike - I might be able to squeeze a ride in over the Easter Weekend, let me know which day your heading up there if you are.

Other than that i'm free on the Saturdays 19th and 26th April.

All of April bar 3/4 is good for me.

Saturdays are better for me.

Phipsy

I'm free for pretty much the next three weeks bar next Friday to Sunday and a couple of other days mid-week. (Hoping to get out on my bike plenty over that time.) If you can bear having a tree-dweller with you once again, that is...

Al, Just took a look at the uploaded route, it always amazes me the vast difference in ascent/decent depending on what package you are using. Bikely is giving ascent at about 717m, but when I've uploaded data from my GPS into the SportsTracker software I use I think it was sub 500m. Unless you did a few sneaky climbs and drop-offs when we weren't looking?!



No worries, Hedgehog - Once you get your head round those gear changes you'll be well away!!!! I will make no comments about the couple of tree/bush incidents though because if I do there is no doubt the same will happen to me next time! I believe it's called Karma.

Billy,

Are there definitive names for the singletrack sections? I've looked at your map plus I've seen this and a couple of others on the mtbuk forum, but even there I see different names for the same bits of track. Your map shows a section called 'Tank Run' (I can understand why) and on another map (scan of an OS map) this is marked as 'Whoops'. I think that I've found/ridden most of the sections you have marked (including the bit out towards Mill Pond) but I've yet to explore up towards Hut Hill and the Corkscrew.

For those who are interested the new Annual Permits for Swinley (valid up to end of March 2009) are available now online

Mine is ordered already.

Currently it's £1.50 for a day and £16 for the year, although I read somewhere that the day permits are going up to £2 and yearly to £18 (but this could equally be a ruse to encourage people to buy their annual permits early).

[Edit] - Just found this on the Gorrick Site

Annual Permit = £16 if renewed before 14/04/08
or £18 thereafter. Permits valid from 1st April - 31st March.

Day Permit = £1.50
from the Lookout Discovery Centre or online.

Your Permit money helps to pay for

The £5 million Public Liability insurance cover.

The Crown Estate for general forest upkeep.

Scheme administration.

Signage in the forest.

Materials for trail maintenance

For those who have been to Swinley they will know that 'Signage in the forest' does not feature high on the budget.

I've gone for an annual permit.

Ive got mine

Phipsy

There are loads of different names for every track at Swinley. The map I posted isn't actually mine - I just "borrowed" it and added the cross to show the start of the trails that were in the video. I wouldn't worry about names too much!

By the way, Corkscrew is a good, fun trail too, although the "corkscrew" section is pretty short. The trails around it are also good though.

im thinking about another visit to swinley on saturday april 5th anyone else free that day?

True - but giving them names is so much better than saying, 'the bit after the twisty bit past the big tree'. I guess the alternative is to give starting and ending grid references but that would be waaay too complicated.


Didn't find it in the end, but we'll get it next time.

Can't personally. I'm away to the Isle of Wight for a week of Kung Fu, activities and drinking. If anyone's around between the Monday 31st March and Thursday 3rd April let me know because I should be up for a ride. Unfortunately, they are weekdays though...